Welsh refs set for busy summer
WITH the domestic season coming to a close, further travels await three of Wales’ elite referees who have been selected by World Rugby for June internationals.
Nigel Owens, widely acclaimed as the world’s number one official, travels to South America to take charge of the first Test between Argentina and Eddie Jones’ England on June 10.
But on this occasion he won’t be the only Welsh official on duty this summer.
Ben Whitehouse journeys to North America where he will referee the 2019 World Cup qualifier between arch-rivals Canada and the USA on June 24.
A third Welsh official, Dan Jones, is one of nine referees selected for the World Rugby Under-20 Championships which take place in Georgia.
WRU National Match Officials Manager, Nigel Whitehouse, said of the appointments: “It is great to see our leading referees being selected for important fixtures during the June window.
“The selections are richly deserved and are especially pleasing for Jones and Whitehouse who have come through our academy system and are establishing themselves at the elite end.
“Coupled with these selections are those of Craig Evans and Adam Jones who are currently on the World 7s circuit.”
Owens, of course, is accustomed to international appointments himself, but is delighted to see the next generation of Welsh referees getting an opportunity at the highest level.
“There’s been a great tradition in Welsh rugby of great referees over the years,” he said. “Not many countries can say they have had two World Cup final referees, Derek Bevan in 1991 and myself in 2015.
“We’ve always had good, young referees coming through, especially recently.
“Dan, Ben and Craig came through the academy structure at the same time and there is a young group coming through behind them again.”
Ben Whitehouse is looking forward to his fixture on 24 June and paid tribute to Owens who has assisted his development.
“It’s a good Test match for me to pick up – it’s a nice way to start my career at international level. Nigel, to be fair, has helped me since I was about 18. We tend to argue a little bit more these days than when I first started but if I need advice, Nigel is one of the few who I would definitely look to.”